NURBURGRING, Germany - The 911 GT3 RS cars sit in the pits of the Nurburgring Formula One track, bright coloured wild beasts waiting under an overcast sky. I get in to one of them and start adjusting the seat, steering wheel and mirrors before I buckle up. However, when you fire up the 4.0-litre, normally aspirated, race-derived flat-six that is shared with every 911 racing car developed by Porsche鈥檚 motorsport division, you are instantly reminded that this is no run-of-the-mill 911, but a rather special beast indeed. At Porsche, the track-focused GT series 911s are a breed apart, and the new GT3 RS is no exception. What sets the GT3 RS apart is an almost obsessive level of attention to detail that permeates the entire car. The engine is a screamer. Peak output, 513 horsepower (SAE) arrives at 8250 rpm and the cut-off is set at a mind-bending 9000 rpm, while maximum torque is delivered at 6000 rpm. The sound at mid-range is quite deep, but it鈥檚 the scream between 8000 and 9000 rpm that quickly becomes addictive and the throttle control is incredibly sharp. Also brilliant is the steering of the GT3 RS, which is razor-sharp and massively communicative. The GT3 RS is equipped with an active rear-wheel steering system that ensures greater agility in tight corners and makes the car more stable in high-speed transitions. Also part of the standard equipment is a torque vectoring system that has been tailored to the GT3 RS and features an electronically controlled, fully-variable rear differential lock. There is a level of immediacy and directness to this car that is simply amazing. It just feels so much more like a racing car than any other 911, and it is perfectly at home on the Nurburgring鈥檚 Grand Prix track. The GT3 RS also looks the part with its myriad of aerodynamic elements. 213,400, and is sure to become a collectible as it will most probably be the last normally aspirated GT3 RS.
With the 991, Porsche has married the refinement and stability of a GT with the poise and handling of a pedigree sports car - a feat indeed. As regards value for money, the base Carrera 991 is priced at 拢71,449 in Britain, compared with 拢67,270 for the final 3.6 997 - about a six per cent increase. For this, you get an entirely re-engineered Porsche with a better quality cabin and higher dynamic capabilities than its predecessor. Yet, that benchmark Porsche quality of 鈥榝eel鈥?emerges sharpened even with this 991. It鈥檚 a tremendous achievement, and the price increase is modest for such a radical upgrade. The combination of performance and economy makes this base 3.4 Carrera the model we would happily opt for. Where the potential buyer may blanch is at the prices on Porsche鈥檚 copious list of options, which can add over 拢20,000 to the invoice. We feel some, notably the Sports steering wheel, are worth having.
What kind of fuel does the 2014 Porsche Panamera use? The 2014 Porsche Panamera runs on premium unleaded (required). What kind of fuel does the 2014 Porsche Cayman use? The 2014 Porsche Cayman runs on premium unleaded (required). What kind of transmission does the 2011 Porsche 911 have? The 2011 Porsche 911 has a 6-speed manual. What kind of transmission does the 2006 Porsche 911 have? The 2006 Porsche 911 has a 6-speed manual. What kind of transmission does the 2013 Porsche Cayenne have? The 2013 Porsche Cayenne has a 6-speed manual. What kind of transmission does the 2009 Porsche 911 have? The 2009 Porsche 911 has a 6-speed manual. What kind of transmission does the 2011 Porsche Cayenne have? The 2011 Porsche Cayenne has a 6-speed manual. What kind of transmission does the 2007 Porsche 911 have? The 2007 Porsche 911 has a 6-speed manual. What kind of transmission does the 2001 Porsche 911 have?
The 2001 Porsche 911 has a 6-speed manual. What kind of transmission does the 2003 Porsche 911 have? The 2003 Porsche 911 has a 6-speed manual. What kind of transmission does the 2009 Porsche Cayenne have? The 2009 Porsche Cayenne has a 6-speed manual. What kind of transmission does the 2008 Porsche Cayenne have? The 2008 Porsche Cayenne has a 6-speed manual. What kind of transmission does the 2004 Porsche 911 have? The 2004 Porsche 911 has a 6-speed manual. What kind of transmission does the 2011 Porsche Cayman have? The 2011 Porsche Cayman has a 6-speed manual. What kind of transmission does the 2007 Porsche Cayman have? The 2007 Porsche Cayman has a 5-speed manual. What kind of transmission does the 2008 Porsche Cayman have? The 2008 Porsche Cayman has a 5-speed manual. What kind of transmission does the 2010 Porsche Cayman have? The 2010 Porsche Cayman has a 6-speed manual.